No, a person has to understand their choices. Infant baptism is one of the most ridiculous ceremonies I have ever heard of. Even Christ told us to be innocent like the children. A child's sin is forgiven. They cannot make a choice of faith until they reach the "age of accountability."
2007-04-20 18:33:51
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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No, baptism is the first act of obedience for a believer. As an infant cannot possibly understand the Gospel, he/she cannot be a believer.
The only people you see in the biblical accounts of the New Testament Church being baptized are those that already believe.
2007-04-20 20:43:27
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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Yes, I do believe in infant baptism. I do not see baptism as something that can only happen when someone has professed faith in Christ. Baptism was around before Christ was even here. Water is a symbol of life. Through God, we are given life. Baptism is an outward symbol of the inward grace and life that we have through God. Infant baptism is the committment of the parents to raise the child in the Lord and in the church. It is not a commitment that someone is forcing a child to become a Christian. A later public profession or private one still has to be made in the child's life if they choose to become a Christian.
There are some churches that exclusively have what is called believer's baptism. It is the act of public profession with the act of baptism. It is not wrong to do baptism in this way. I simply look at it in another manner that someone can view it as a committment to raise someone in the Lord and the acceptance of grace in someone's life. Grace is a free gift.
2007-04-20 18:46:47
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answer #3
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answered by One Odd Duck 6
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The Bible is abundantly clear of what baptism is, who it is for, and what it accomplishes. In the Bible, only believers who had placed their faith in Christ were baptized - as a public testimony of their faith and identification with Him (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4). Water baptism by immersion is a step of obedience after faith in Christ. It is a proclamation of faith in Christ, a statement of submission to Him, and an identification with His death, burial, and resurrection.
With this in view, infant baptism is not a Biblical practice. An infant cannot place his or her faith in Christ. An infant cannot make a conscious decision to obey Christ. An infant cannot understand what water baptism symbolizes. The Bible does not record any infants being baptized. Infant baptism is the origin of the sprinkling and pouring methods of baptism - as it is unwise and unsafe to immerse an infant under water. Even the method of infant baptism fails to agree with the Bible. How does pouring or sprinkling illustrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
2007-04-21 04:18:27
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answer #4
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answered by Freedom 7
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No because Jesus was an example for us to follow , he was not baptized as an infant (Matthew3:13 ; Hebrews10:70)
Baptizm is a symbol of disowning oneself or a dedication to God(Matthew16:24 ; 1Peter3:21)'Infand cannot do that
Ba[ptism is only for those old enough to be taught God's word(Matthew28:19,20 ; Acts2:41) Infant cannot understand what is taught in the Bible
Total imersion in water is the proper way to be baptized(Acts8:38,39 ; John3:23) sprinkling is not enough
Baptism does not wash away sins(1Peter2:22 ; 3:18)
Only Jesus blood washes sins away for believers(1John1:7)
2007-04-20 19:23:59
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answer #5
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answered by I speak Truth 6
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Baptism is supposed to be a public declaration of one's faith. It is an outward ceremony that represents the inward change that is supposed to have taken place when a person is born again by the Holy Spirit. Therefore it doesn't make sense to baptize an infant just like it wouldn't make sense to baptize any other person who had not put their faith in Jesus.
Romans 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. .
2007-04-20 18:56:29
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answer #6
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answered by Martin S 7
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I do not believe on infant baptism but I believe on infant dedication.
Why, because baptism involves a decision from the person that he is leaving his old life and ready to start anew. This is a declaration of faith and infants doesn't have that.
I believe on infant dedication because I believe that parents have authority over their children and once they have dedicated them to God would mean that they are offering the lives of their children to Him.
2007-04-20 18:36:48
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answer #7
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answered by Allan Martin 2
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It is not supported in the bible. This is a tridition of many churchs today trying to look holy. The age of reason has to come before the child is actually baptized. He or she must repent and ask for slavaiton. This is a free will act not and pre dunk act. In other words infant baptism serves no spirtual purpose. This is my main problem with the catholic church. Shining people on and makeing them think they are saved leads people to hell. And that is what is happing in the catholic church.
2007-04-20 18:44:47
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answer #8
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answered by the light exposes the darkenss 3
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It seems to me that baptism is a commitment one must make, so I don't think there's any point in baptizing an infant who is incapable of making commitments or even understanding the purpose of baptism.
2007-04-20 18:33:53
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answer #9
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answered by Jonathan 7
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No. I do not feel that baptism can be recognized until the person is of an age or wisdom to know what the committment is all about. While not being a "religious" person, it seems rather "false" to become baptized or christened into a faith you have no knowledge or experience of. If one is going to make such a committment it should be by personal choice, not enforcement. To have the knowledge and understanding of what it all entails is the real deal. Just my own personal P.O.V., but then ...
2007-04-20 18:38:22
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answer #10
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answered by OP 5
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